Rui Costa clears up Schjelderup, Palhinha and António Silva's exit | OneFootball

On the sidelines of the launch of the Benfica Institute for Sport Excellence, at the Estádio da Luz, Rui Costa addressed several current issues regarding the Club’s football team this Tuesday, July 21. The Eagles’ president clarified matters involving Andreas Schjelderup, João Palhinha, and António Silva.

Is Schjelderup leaving?

"Schjelderup, as you know, has a contract renewal offer. I read and heard that the player does not want to stay at Benfica. That has not been communicated to us. He is on holiday after the Club World Cup. He will return to Benfica soon. He will be a Benfica player. Up to today, I’ve read that we received many offers for Schjelderup or that he wants to leave. Benfica has not received any offer for Schjelderup. It is not something that is on the table right now".

Is João Palhinha coming to the Luz?

"João Palhinha is a Bayern Munich player. You know the conditions João Palhinha has at Bayern Munich. You know the conditions Bayern Munich is asking for João Palhinha. At this moment, we are focused and concentrated on the players we have at Benfica Campus. They are working so that, on Thursday, we can secure our first win of the official season".

Does António Silva have an agreement with Bournemouth?

"António Silva remains a Benfica player. He will play on Thursday if the coach sees fit. I will not hide it, and it is already public, that there is interest from Bournemouth, but no agreement has been reached yet and therefore António is fully focused on the game he has to play on Thursday, and we are pleased with that as well".

Expectations for the new 2026/27 season

"It is a short pre-season, with the absence of the players who were at the Club World Cup, and there are six who finished later. Even so, we have to play these matches and expectations are high. The squad we have available gives us that assurance. The official season starts for Benfica the day after tomorrow. We are coming off a season that was openly acknowledged as negative. It is the first competition we are going to play in and we cannot fail".

Transfer market situation

"Who is talking so much about João Palhinha coming or other players joining Benfica? Every day, new players come up. So far, Benfica has done the business it had to do. We have not lost any players yet, except Otamendi, whose contract with Benfica ended, and Sidny, who left at the end of the season. Those departures were covered with Lenglet and Kaminski. Jhon Durán has now arrived and by the end of the window there will certainly be more departures and more arrivals. But I am not going to stand here commenting on every name that comes out in the media every day. Instead of having a conversation, we would be here explaining every name linked with Benfica. One thing is clear: Benfica will not stay like this. There will be changes. At this moment, there is no point in talking about the names of players who are not Benfica players, neither for arrivals nor departures. I understand your side, but it is pointless".

Problems with information leaks

"That concerns anyone who works at Benfica Campus. Marco Silva’s words were a warning, even regarding the number of people involved at Benfica Campus, that within Seixal things must stay there, as is only natural".

Does Benfica have more targets in this window?

"Benfica has several targets, but as I said before, up to today Benfica has not lost any other players apart from Otamendi and Sidny. Therefore, the squad Benfica had last year gives us guarantees of success this year, strengthened in some positions as we have already started to do and, by the end of the window... What I say to Benfica supporters is that the squad will not stay like this. In due time you will know the names that will leave and the names that will come in. Until then, the focus is only one: to win Thursday’s match, and that is what we are going to focus on. All the players working at Benfica Campus are focused on what they have to do on Thursday, which is a game of extreme responsibility for Benfica. No player is allowed to be focused on anything other than winning the game on Thursday".

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.